The 30 free things everyone in Washington, D.C. should do at least once, according to Tripadvisor

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Highest-rated free things to do in Washington DC, according to Tripadvisor

It is incredibly expensive to be an American. While workers in the United States have seen an 80% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living , according to a 2024 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1970 and 2022, the national consumer price index increased by over 500%, while wages only grew by 80%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. The number of cost-burdened households in the U.S. reached an 11-year record in 2022, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. In June 2024, Redfin reported that the median U.S. home sale price hit an all-time high of $394,000.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations . But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Washington D.C.

Think about the most common items on a vacation getaway itinerary: sightseeing, touring landmarks, or completing a nature walk. Or, maybe you're just aiming to relax and want some peace and quiet. Whether you're a history buff or aching to dip your toes in some cool water, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Washington D.C. using data from Tripadvisor . Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of June 12, 2024.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

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Tripadvisor

#30. Smithsonian American Art Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,580 reviews)
- Address: 8th and F Streets, Northwest Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#29. Supreme Court

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,520 reviews)
- Address: First St. Northeast Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#28. National Postal Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,158 reviews)
- Address: 2 Massachusetts Ave. Northeast Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#27. Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute

- Rating: 4/5 (4,629 reviews)
- Address: 3001 Connecticut Ave. Northwest Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#26. Tidal Basin

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,710 reviews)
- Address: E Basin Drive Northwest Ohio Drive Northwest Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#25. Smithsonian Institution Building

- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,553 reviews)
- Address: 1000 Jefferson Drive Southwest Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#24. Capitol Hill

- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,488 reviews)
- Address: First St. and East Capitil St. Northeast Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#23. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

- Rating: 5/5 (1,917 reviews)
- Address: 400 Michigan Ave. Northeast Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#22. The National Archives Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,578 reviews)
- Address: 701 Constitution Ave. Northwest Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#21. Georgetown

- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,029 reviews)
- Address: Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#20. White House

- Rating: 4/5 (8,233 reviews)
- Address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#19. United States Botanic Garden

- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,862 reviews)
- Address: 100 Maryland Ave. Southwest Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#18. National Museum of American History

- Rating: 4.5/5 (5,080 reviews)
- Address: 1300 Constitution Ave. Northwest Between 12th and 14th St. Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#17. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

- Rating: 4.5/5 (5,838 reviews)
- Address: 1850 West Basin Drive Southwest Near West Basin Drive Southwest & Independence Ave. Southwest Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#16. Jefferson Memorial

- Rating: 4.5/5 (6,535 reviews)
- Address: 701 East Basin Drive Southwest At the south shore of the Tidal Basin Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#15. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

- Rating: 4.5/5 (5,985 reviews)
- Address: 1850 West Basin Drive Southwest Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#14. National Portrait Gallery

- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,600 reviews)
- Address: 8th and G Streets Northwest Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#13. National Museum of African American History and Culture

- Rating: 5/5 (3,738 reviews)
- Address: 1400 Constitution Ave. Northwest Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#12. National World War II Memorial

- Rating: 4.5/5 (10,214 reviews)
- Address: 1750 Independence Ave. Southeast Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#11. Washington Monument

- Rating: 4.5/5 (9,513 reviews)
- Address: 2 15th St. Northwest Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#10. U.S. Capitol

- Rating: 4.5/5 (7,157 reviews)
- Address: East Capitol St. Northeast & First St. Southeast Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#9. National Mall

- Rating: 4.5/5 (8,416 reviews)
- Address: Constitution Ave. Northwest Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#8. Korean War Veterans Memorial

- Rating: 4.5/5 (11,096 reviews)
- Address: 10 Daniel French Drive Southwest Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#7. Vietnam Veterans Memorial

- Rating: 4.5/5 (11,998 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#6. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (11,348 reviews)
- Address: 100 Raoul Wallenberg Plaza Southwest Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#5. National Gallery of Art

- Rating: 5/5 (9,361 reviews)
- Address: Constitution Ave. Northwest 6th St. and Constitution Ave. Northwest Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#4. Library of Congress

- Rating: 4.5/5 (9,160 reviews)
- Address: 101 Independence Ave. Southeast Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#3. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

- Rating: 4.5/5 (12,532 reviews)
- Address: 10th St. and Constitution Ave. Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#2. National Air and Space Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (23,580 reviews)
- Address: Independence Ave. Southwest 600 Independence Ave. Southwest Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#1. Lincoln Memorial

- Rating: 4.5/5 (32,040 reviews)
- Address: 2 Lincoln Memorial Cir Northwest Washington DC, District of Columbia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Zuri White-Gibson, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.

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