Springtime always brings houseguests to our home and many of our visitors are first-timers to Washington DC. Although each person has their own particular interests/dislikes, and depending on their length of stay, there are sights I suggest everyone should see during their maiden journey into the city. My top 10 Washington DC (and surrounding area) must see list is as follows:
- The Monuments at Night ~ The monuments are spectacular anytime of day but when they are lit up, they become magical. Bonus if there’s a full moon.
- The Kennedy Center Millennium Stage Performance ~ There are free performances of music or dance every night at 6 pm.For a schedule, click here.
The National Mall ~ Smithsonian Museums, National Gallery of Art and The US Capitol
- Smithsonian Museums ~ It would take weeks to explore all the wonderful and free museums in Washington DC. Visitors should “speed-date” by walking along The National Mall and ducking into each museum to see the highlights. Visitors can return to the museum they liked best for a deeper dive into all the treasures. Some of the more popular displays are: the Hope Diamond at the Natural History Museum, the Star Spangled Banner flag at the American History Museum and the Kitty Hawk at the Air & Space museum. Click here for more information on all things Smithsonian.
- The National Gallery of Art ~ My personal favorite. Again, this could take weeks to explore but it’s worth popping into the gallery for a few hours to gaze at the paintings and sculptures which spans from the middle ages to the present. Don’t miss the: Little Dancer (Degas), Self Portrait (Rembrandt van Rijn), and the paintings by the masters such as Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne and many more. For information on hours and directions, click here.
- The U.S. Capitol Building ~ Take a tour of the Capitol building and stop in to see the Senate in session.
- The Library of Congress ~ The building is gorgeous especially the Reading Room. There’s an original copy of a Gutenberg Bible (circa 1455) on display in the lobby. It’s the first bible (major book) printed in Western Europe using movable metal type and was one of the turning points from the Middle Ages into the Renaissance era.
- Mount Vernon Estates ~ Mount Vernon is located 14 miles south of Washington DC along the GW Parkway. The house and grounds are lovely. Give yourself about four hours in order to tour the home, wander the grounds and visit the on-site museum. Mount Vernon is accessible by public transportation, boat, biking and private vehicle (parking is free). For directions and assistance on getting there, click here.
- Arlington Cemetery ~ Not to be missed is the Changing of the Guard. It will give you goosebumps.
- Washington Monument ~ Tickets are free but have a $1.50 service charge per person and anyone two years and older are required to have a ticket to go to the top of the monument. Tickets go on sale three months prior and I highly recommend purchasing them online the day they go on sale. Tour buses snap them up quickly. Click here for more information. If you’re unable to get tickets online, there are a limited number of Same Day tickets distributed at 8:30 am at the National Park Service building located at 15th street near the monument. These are free same-day, timed tickets and one person can get up to six. The line forms much earlier than 8:30am so get an early start.
- Georgetown ~ It’s a dynamic area of DC to wander around; parts of it are serene and parts are packed with people. Stop in to see the gorgeous Georgetown University campus, take a peek at The Exorcist stairs (and run up them if you’re in great shape), walk along waterfront park and stop in for coffee/pastries at Baked and Wired.
Please note: All buildings in Washington DC have security at the entrances and be prepared to go through a scanner. There are lists of prohibited items on each website. It’s best to pack lightly when touring around DC.
I’ve used my list for the last five years for about thirty first-time visitors. Only one houseguest went rogue. She preferred to visit the National Cathedral, Catholic Basilica, the Botanical Gardens and the Arboretum. That’s the great thing about Washington DC ~ there’s something for everyone!
Displaced Beachbums 
Bookmarked for my next trip to Washington – thanks! 🙂
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Your house guest who went rogue made me laugh 🙂
You know, I’ve not see the Monuments at night, but I definitely want to do so.
Such a helpful post, Patti.
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So glad you liked the post. I’ve had a chance to see the monuments in the very early morning as well (when volunteering for the Cherry Blossom 10miler) and it’s so nice to see the sunrise in DC.
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The Newseum is a favorite, and the Arboretum in the autumn
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I’ve added Newseum to the top of my list of things yet to do in DC. Several people have highly recommended it.
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Great list. I also loved the Newseum and the bureau of engraving where they print money. I want to get back to see more of the Smithsonians though!
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Thanks. I’m embarrassed to admit I’ve never been to the Newseum. Every time I walk by, I love reading all the headlines on the domestic and international newspapers out front. I keep waiting for one of our visitors to request going there but it’s probably time to go on my own.
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Nice list, thanks! I’m planning for an out of town visitor in March-April, just in time for the National Cherry Blossom Festival, so it’s very helpful. (There’s only one full moon during the time frame, so that narrows down the night monument tour, doesn’t it?) In addition, I run a local fee-free walking and hiking group, and it’s reassuring to see that we cover most of these during our events.
Your rogue visitor’s stop at the Botanic Gardens, along with the adjacent Bartholdi Fountain, fits in with the Smithsonian museums in a walking tour of the National Mall. There are a lot of fountains and gardens scattered throughout the Mall that make a daylight tour just as much fun as a visit at night. I have to agree the Arboretum is well worth a visit in early May, since it has an annual Azalea Festival that shouldn’t be missed.
Thanks again!
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Thanks for your comment. As far as the monuments at night, the full moon is a bonus but not necessary. We usually go into the city after rush hour is over and drive by the monuments. The closer look is during the day.
The Azalea Festival is amazing! Thanks for the reminder. I never did get around to posting about my visit there ~ will try to get to it this week.
We like to hike whenever time permits (and all our schedules sync) so I’ll be following your blog in the hopes of getting some hiking hints.
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Great List, I can’t argue with any of them and I heartily support Baked and Wired for coffee and pastry. If you made the list the top 11, I would add the Tidal Basin–Jefferson Memorial, Martin Luther King Memeorial, and the FDR Memorial and all are especially good at twilight.
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Thanks. I’m glad I don’t live too close to Baked and Wired ~ it’s hard to resist. I completely agree about the Tidal Basin especially if the Cherry Blossoms are blooming. We should have time for both of our visitors to see Jefferson, MLK and FDR memorials. All stunning! Also, we’ve had a special request from one set of visitors to tour the “The Bureau of Engraving and Printing” which should be fun for the pre-teen who will be with us.
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[…] Source: Washington DC: My top 10 ‘Must See’ List for First Time Visitors […]
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Definitely agree about seeing DC at night – I’ve taken a coach tour twice.
Also suggest eating in the Cascades Cafe in the National Gallery of Art and at the Museum of the American Indian.
The Newseum kept me occupied for most of two days.
I love the Sackler and the Freer, which most people seem to skip.
Is Mount Vernon possible by public transport?
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Thanks for your comment and suggestions. I agree ~ there’s so much to see and do in DC but since my upcoming houseguests are here for only four days, I felt I needed to limit the “must see” list. I’ve given each a much longer list to augment their visit. Mount Vernon is accessible by public transportation. I’ve added the information to the post. Thanks for asking about it.
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