9 of the Best Museums in Washington DC and How To Visit

The National Gallery of Art is undoubtedly one of the best museums in Washington DC. The east wing features modern art, while the west wing displays classical paintings and sculptures—plus, there’s an outdoor sculpture garden to showcase larger-than-life installations. This museum is full of surprises, from a giant blue rooster on the rooftop to a long, dark walkway filled with twinkling lights that connects both wings. It’s free to visit, but a private museum tour will ensure that you don’t miss any highlights.

Don’t miss: The only Leonardo da Vinci painting on view in the Americas, Ginevra de' Benci.

The National Museum of American History is another iconic museum in Washington DC that belongs to the Smithsonian Institution. The exhibits here run the gamut of American iconography: See the flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner at Fort McHenry; admire the ruby-red slippers from The Wizard of Oz; and view a classic Chicago streetcar and the first automobile driven across the US. You can tailor your day at this museum to your interests on a private museum tour, which allows you to design your own itinerary.

Don’t miss: Julia Child’s home kitchen, which Child donated to the museum in 2001. It's part of an exhibition that explores how American eating habits have changed throughout the years, thanks to technological innovations and changes in cultural norms.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture explores everything from the brutality of slavery to the Civil Rights movement to the extraordinary accomplishments of Black Americans in contemporary culture such as the work of the 44th President of the US, Barack Obama.

This museum exhibits the role African-Americans play in the arts, entertainment, sports, and more. Keep in mind that this museum requires you to reserve timed entry (reservable online with a limited number of same-day walk-up passes available on weekdays only), which you can combine with an African-American history tour of Washington DC that also includes stops at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial.

Don’t miss: Traditional African-American dishes served at the museum’s Sweet Home Café—a James Beard Foundation semifinalist for Best New Restaurant.

The National Postal Museum delves into the history of mail delivery in America. Step aboard a stagecoach, a train, and a mail truck at this highly interactive museum that invites visitors to experience various forms of mail delivery used throughout the Postal Service's history. Here, you can also discover a collection of stamps from around the world as well as an exhibition exploring how stamps are designed.

Don’t miss: The taxidermied body of Owney, a loyal dog who followed mailbags onto wagons and trains in the late 1800s and became the unofficial mascot of the Railway Mail Service, with the many medals he collected along his travels also on display.

Those lucky enough to get an inside look at The White House only see a small portion of the president’s residence and office. The White House Historical Association filled that gap by establishing The People's House: A White House Experience, which provides an insider’s look at what it’s like to live and work there. Admission is free, but a donation is suggested.

Don’t miss: A replica of the Oval Office, a place usually reserved for political insiders.

Just a 15-minute walk from the White House, the free-admission Planet Word is an immersive museum dedicated to language. Interactive exhibitions explore how we learn to speak, the origins of many English words, the diversity of the world’s many languages, and how language evokes emotions from joy to despair. It'd not all talk, though: You can sing karaoke, enter a recording booth, and find out how funny you are in the museum’s humor gallery.

Don’t miss: The library exhibition’s hidden door which leads to a secret room.

The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden holds one of the most significant collections of modern art in the world, with a collection that includes photographs, films, paintings, and sculptures, with an outdoor sculpture garden where art blends with nature. The museum itself is a striking work of art as well, as the round, brutalist building stands out from the more stately buildings on the National Mall. This free museum has frequent special exhibitions, so be sure to check to see what’s on during your visit.

Don’t miss: Modern art located around the building’s perimeter, including one of Yayoi Kusama's giant pumpkins.

No Washington DC museum guide would be complete without a trip to the International Spy Museum, dedicated to the art of espionage. Receive a new identity as soon as you step inside and create a disguise to make it convincing, before you hear firsthand accounts from former spies and view an exhibition featuring spies in pop culture, including an homage to James Bond. As this museum is on many travelers' itineraries, it's recommended to purchase your admission ticket in advance.

Don’t miss: An exhibition about secret codes—see how many you can crack.

Found around Washington DC, the Smithsonian Institution is made up of 19 museums that make up a good portion of DC's museum scene (and of our list of must-sees). The Smithsonian Institution includes National Mall highlights such as the National Air and Space Museum, as well as spots that are just as worth the visit. Check out contemporary art at the Renwick Gallery of the American Art Museum or see depictions of iconic American figures at the National Portrait Gallery.

For an in-depth experience at a Smithsonian museum, book a small-group or private tour with a guide whose commentary will bring the exhibits to life. Also keep in mind that while you can visit any Smithsonian museum for free, timed passes are required for some museums.

Don't miss: If you only have time for one Smithsonian museum, head to the National Museum of Natural History.