Best Museums to Visit in Washington, D.C.

Interesting Museums in Washington, D.C. Worth Visiting

Museums aren't just an intellectual pastime; they're also a lot of fun, especially in Washington, D.C. We've curated a list of the capital's top museums that are sure to be both interesting and entertaining for you.

Museums on the National Mall

The National Mall is home to several museums that are considered the best in their field, not only in the U.S. but worldwide. Many of them belong to the Smithsonian Institution, which means they are completely free to visit. We'll go into detail about each museum, but this is by no means an exhaustive list of what Washington has to offer.

National Air and Space Museum

This museum houses the world's largest historical collection of aircraft and spacecraft. Visitors can trace the evolution from ancient Chinese kites to the space shuttle Discovery, which flew until 2011. The exhibit on the National Mall is just the beginning — there’s also a massive collection at the Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport.

In addition, the museum features extensive exhibits on geology, geography, and physics.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

The most visited historical museum in the world, the Holocaust Museum presents the events of the Holocaust as a personal experience. Each visitor goes through the history of the Holocaust as a participant: hearing voices and stories of witnesses, and seeing panoramas and reconstructions of camps, ghettos, and cemeteries.

The museum's collection includes over 19,000 artifacts, each playing a role in the presentation. Despite the heavy subject matter, the museum has a section for children as young as eight.

Newseum

The Newseum makes an impression at first sight with a façade inscribed with a quote from the U.S. Constitution and completely transparent walls, symbolizing the ideal transparency of a journalist's conscience. Inside, the museum offers a genuine challenge.

Rejecting boring exhibitions, the Newseum provides interactive displays: theaters, halls, pavilions, and studios dedicated to all forms of media. Visitors can not only learn about the profession but also try their hand at being a reporter, anchor, technical specialist, or editor of their favorite news program.

National Museum of Natural History

One of the oldest scientific museums in the U.S., the National Museum of Natural History has become a classic. Open daily and free of charge, its collection numbers in the millions. Exhibits range from geology with giant diamonds, to paleontology with dinosaur skeletons, to biology with the earliest inhabitants of our planet—a treasure trove for families.

National Gallery of Art

No visit to Washington, D.C., is complete without exploring the National Gallery of Art. Many works housed here cannot be found anywhere else, even in reproduction. Art enthusiasts will find this museum indispensable.

International Spy Museum

Located near the National Mall, the International Spy Museum is a must-visit. It's one of the most intriguing museums, promising to unveil the secrets of U.S. espionage. A special focus is on the Cold War era between the U.S. and Russia. Whether you believe all the exhibits or not, the museum is fascinating and well worth the entry fee.