Tim & Ollie
Tim & Ollie
Things to Do
We encourage all our out-of-town guests to consider extending their trip (either before or after the wedding) to explore the DC area. There are so many fun things to do -- from activities perfect for the whole family to evenings out for just the adults -- you'll find it all here. On this page, we have curated a few collections of the "must-see" landmarks and some of our personal favorites, organized by theme. A great place to check out even more options for an extended stay is the Official Tourism Site for Washington, DC.
Learn About Our Federal Government
Washington, DC is home to all three branches of our federal government along with many of the country's most important federal agencies and services. Tours are available for several of the city's most iconic buildings, and there are opportunities to meet with your representatives in Congress. Here's a quick list of some of the most popular places to check out if you're interested in seeing how our government works:
The White House
COST/TICKETS
Self-guided tours are free, but must be arranged through your Member of Congress (either your U.S. Senator or Representative). Bookings may be submitted 7 – 90 days in advance of the requested tour date.
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
TOUR AVAILABILITY
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday | 7:30 am - 11:30 am
Friday, Saturday | 7:30 am - 1:30 pm
ESTIMATED VISIT TIME
45 minutes - 1 hour (tour is self-guided)
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
McPherson Square | Blue/Silver/Orange Lines | 5-min walk (0.2 mi)
Metro Center | Red Line | 10-min walk (0.5 mi)
ABOUT
The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It has served as the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800 when the national capital was moved from Philadelphia.
NOTE: Obtaining a White House tour can be very difficult, and each person in your tour party must submit security information to the White House via a link provided by White House staff. The White House Visitors Office assigns tour times. The self-guided tour includes visits to the State Dining Room, Red Room, Blue Room, Green Room and East Room.
U.S. Capitol Building
COST/TICKETS
Guided tours are free; Reservations are recommended and can be made through either the Capitol website or the office of your U.S. Senator or Representative; walk-in tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis; additional Specialty Tours are also available.
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
TOUR AVAILABILITY
Monday - Saturday | 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
ESTIMATED VISIT TIME
1.5 - 2 hours
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Capitol South | Blue/Silver/Orange Lines | 7-min walk (0.3 mi)
Union Station | Red Line | 14-min walk (0.6 mi)
VISITING YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Reach out to your Representative's office to arrange a meeting.
ABOUT
The United States Capitol, often called the Capitol or the Capitol Building, is the seat of the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. It is located on Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Although no longer at the geographic center of the national capital, the U.S. Capitol forms the origin point for the street-numbering system of the district as well as its four quadrants. The guided tour includes visits to the Old Supreme Court Chamber, Crypt, Rotunda and Old Hall of the House (Statuary Hall).
U.S. Supreme Court
COST/TICKETS
Free entry
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
VISITOR HOURS
Monday - Friday | 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
ESTIMATED VISIT TIME
1 - 1.5 hours
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Capitol South | Blue/Silver/Orange Lines | 10-min walk (0.4 mi)
Union Station | Red Line | 13-min walk (0.5 mi)
ABOUT
The Supreme Court Building is the permanent home of the Court. Completed in 1935, the Building is open to the public Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and is closed on weekends and federal holidays. Visitors should be aware that the business of the Court may affect public access to the building and visitor programs. Please check Today at the Court on the homepage for the Court's daily calendar. A series of Self-Guides available online can be used to enhance your visit.
Library of Congress
COST/TICKETS
Requires free timed entry ticket; tickets are available 30 days in advance.
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
VISITOR HOURS
Tuesday | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday | 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Friday | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
ESTIMATED VISIT TIME
1.5 - 2 hours
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Capitol South | Blue/Silver/Orange Lines | 5-min walk (0.2 mi)
Union Station | Red Line | 15-min walk (0.6 mi)
ABOUT
The Library of Congress is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution, and it serves as the research arm of Congress. It is also the largest library in the world, with more than 162 million items. The collections include books, sound recordings, motion pictures, photographs, maps, and manuscripts.
National Archives
COST/TICKETS
Free; self-guided timed entry tickets for groups are recommended; tickets can be reserved up to 90 days in advance; guided tours are available for free but require a separate reservation.
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
EXHIBIT HOURS
Daily | 10:00 am - 5:30 pm
TOUR AVAILABILITY
"Highlights of the Collection" Tour | Monday - Friday | 11:00 am
"Art and Architecture" Tour | Monday - Friday | 2:00 pm
ESTIMATED VISIT TIME
1.5 - 2 hours
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter | Yellow/Green Lines | 4-min walk (0.2 mi)
Smithsonian | Blue/Silver/Orange Lines | 10-min walk (0.5 mi)
ABOUT
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the nation's record keeper. Of all documents and materials created in the course of business conducted by the United States federal government, only 1%-3% are so important for legal or historical reasons that they are kept by us forever. Those valuable records are preserved and are available to you, whether you want to see if they contain clues about your family’s history, need to prove a veteran’s military service, or are researching a historical topic that interests you. Encounter the original founding documents of the United States in the National Archives Rotunda, the permanent home of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, and Bill of Rights. These three documents, known collectively as the Charters of Freedom, have been instrumental to the founding and philosophy of the United States.
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
COST/TICKETS
Standard tours are free; Reservations are recommended; tickets are available 60 days in advance.
Congressional constituent tours are free; Reservations are made through the office of your U.S. Senator or Representative; tours can be scheduled up to 6 months in advance.
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
VISITOR HOURS
Monday - Friday | 8:30 am - 3:15 pm (last tour at 2:00 pm)
ESTIMATED VISIT TIME
1 - 1.5 hours (tours are 45 minutes)
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Smithsonian | Blue/Silver/Orange Lines | 8-min walk (0.3 mi)
ABOUT
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is a government agency within the United States Department of the Treasury that designs and produces a variety of security products for the United States government, most notable of which is Federal Reserve Notes (paper money) for the Federal Reserve, the nation's central bank. In addition to paper currency, the BEP produces Treasury securities; military commissions and award certificates; invitations and admission cards; and many different types of identification cards, forms, and other special security documents for a variety of government agencies. The BEP's role as printer of paper currency makes it one of two Treasury Department agencies involved in currency production. The other is the United States Mint, which mints coinage. With production facilities in Washington, D.C., and Fort Worth, Texas, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is the largest producer of government security documents in the United States.
The Pentagon
COST/TICKETS
Tours are free; Reservations are required through either the Pentagon's website or the office of your U.S. Senator or Representative; reservations can be made up to 90 days but no less than 14 days in advance.
NOTE: Adults must complete visitor registration and pre-visit security reviews at least 7 days before the tour.
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
TOUR AVAILABILITY
Daily | 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
ESTIMATED VISIT TIME
2 - 2.5 hours
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Pentagon | Yellow/Blue Lines | 2-min walk (0.1 mi)
ABOUT
The Pentagon, one of the world's largest office buildings, is the headquarters of the Department of Defense. Located in the Washington, D.C., area, the five-sided building has three times the floor space of the Empire State Building. Each year, about 100,000 visitors explore displays and memorials in the Pentagon's halls with the help of tour guides, all of whom are active U.S. military service members.
All tours will feature information and prominent displays that explore the history and facts pertaining to the service branches of the military (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Space Force). You may have an opportunity to visit the indoor memorial placed near the September 11th crash site, along with the September 11th Memorial Chapel. Also, the names of all the recipients of the Medal of Honor may be seen in the Hall of Heroes, as well as an up-close look at an actual Medal of Honor medallion.
FBI Headquarters
COST/TICKETS
"The FBI Experience" self-guided tours are free; Reservations are required through the office of your U.S. Senator or Representative; reservations can be made up to 5 months but no less than 4 weeks in advance.
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
TOUR AVAILABILITY
Monday - Friday | 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 2:00 pm
ESTIMATED VISIT TIME
1 - 1.5 hours
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Federal Triangle | Blue/Silver/Orange Lines | 6-min walk (0.2 mi)
Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter | Yellow/Green Lines | 3-min walk (0.2 mi)
ABOUT
In 1937, the FBI tour was the face of the FBI when FBI Headquarters was located in the DOJ building in Washington, DC. When the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building opened in 1975, the tour quickly became a highlight for visitors to the nation’s capital. However, due to security concerns following the events of 09/11/2001, the tour was closed.
Repurposing artifacts and information from the old tour, the FBI opened the Education Center in 2008 to provide an opportunity for new employees and law enforcement partners to learn more about the Bureau and its work. In 2014, the FBI launched a pilot program that opened the Education Center to the public. This allowed the Bureau the opportunity to tell its story—including its history, capabilities, and ideas for the future—to a wider audience.
The Education Center closed in 2016 so the FBI could make way for a new, revitalized tour that explores the FBI and its mission to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States. The FBI Experience opened its doors to the American people on July 10, 2017 and has quickly become a popular site for visitors to Washington, D.C.
Walk the National Mall and Memorial Parks
This is where the nation comes to remember and where history is made. As “America’s Front Yard,” the National Mall and Memorial Parks is home to many of our country’s most iconic memorials telling the story of people and events that shaped us as a nation. Each year, millions of people come to recreate, commemorate presidential legacies, honor our veterans, and make their voices heard. See below for some of our favorite highlights along the Mall.
NOTE: There are guided tours of the various memorials available from National Park Service rangers. Each tour is between 30 and 45 minutes long and provides a great historical overview of the memorial.
Washington Monument
COST/TICKETS
$1/ticket if reserved online (recommended); free same-day tickets available on a first-come/first-served basis
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
OPERATING HOURS
Every Day | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Smithsonian | Blue/Silver/Orange Lines | 11-min walk (0.5 mi)
ABOUT
George Washington's military and political leadership were indispensable to the founding of the United States. As commander of the Continental Army, he rallied Americans from thirteen divergent states and outlasted Britain's superior military force. As the first president, Washington's superb leadership set the standard for each president that has succeeded him. The Washington Monument towers above the city that bears his name, serving as an awe-inspiring reminder of George Washington's greatness. The monument, like the man, stands in no one's shadow. The Washington Monument, designed by Robert Mills and eventually completed by Thomas Casey and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, honors and memorializes George Washington at the center of the nation's capital. The structure was completed in two phases of construction, one private (1848-1854) and one public (1876-1884). Built in the shape of an Egyptian obelisk, evoking the timelessness of ancient civilizations, the Washington Monument embodies the awe, respect, and gratitude the nation felt for its most essential Founding Father. When completed, the Washington Monument was the tallest building in the world at 555 feet, 5-1/8 inches.
World War II Memorial
COST/TICKETS
Free entry
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
GUIDED TOUR
Saturday, 11/8 | 10:00 am - 10:30 am
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Smithsonian | Blue/Silver/Orange Lines | 16-min walk (0.7 mi)
ABOUT
The World War II Memorial honors the service of 16 million members of the Armed Forces of the United States of America, the support of countless millions on the home front, and the ultimate sacrifice of 405,399 Americans. Twenty-four bronze bas-relief panels flank the ceremonial entrance. To many, these panels stir memories as they tell the story of America's experience in the war. Granite columns representing each U.S. state and territory at the time of World War II ring an impressive pool with water shooting high into the air. Quotes, references to theaters, campaigns, and battles, and two massive victory pavilions chronicle the efforts Americans undertook to win the war. A wall of 4,048 gold stars reminds all of the supreme sacrifice made by over 400,000 Americans to make that victory possible.
Korean War Veterans Memorial
COST/TICKETS
Free entry
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
GUIDED TOUR
Saturday, 11/8 | 11:00 am - 11:45 am
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Arlington Cemetary | Blue Line | 25-min walk (1.1 mi)
Smithsonian | Blue/Silver/Orange Lines | 26-min walk (1.2 mi)
ABOUT
From 1950 to 1953 the United States joined with United Nations forces in Korea to take a stand against what was deemed a threat to democratic nations worldwide. At war's end, a million and a half American veterans returned to a peacetime world of families, homes and jobs - and to a country reluctant to view the Korean War as something to memorialize. But to the men and women who served, the Korean War could never be a forgotten war. The passing of four decades had brought a new perspective to the war and its aftermath. The time had come, in the eyes of the nation, to set aside a place of remembrance for the people who served in this hard-fought war half a world away. The Korean War Veterans Memorial honors those Americans who worked and fought under the most trying of circumstances, and those who gave their lives for the cause of freedom.
Lincoln Memorial
COST/TICKETS
Free entry
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
GUIDED TOUR
Saturday, 11/8 | 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Arlington Cemetary | Blue Line | 21-min walk (0.9 mi)
Smithsonian | Blue/Silver/Orange Lines | 26-min walk (1.2 mi)
ABOUT
"...as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever." Beneath these words, the 16th president of the United States sits immortalized in marble as an enduring symbol of unity, strength, and wisdom. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865, just as the Civil War was ending. By March of 1867, Congress incorporated the Lincoln Monument Association to build a memorial to the slain 16th president. Learn about the main features of the Lincoln Memorial, including the statue of Lincoln, murals, and inscriptions. Discover how and why it was constructed, the landscape and views that surround it, and the monumental efforts taken over the years to preserve and maintain this iconic site.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
COST/TICKETS
Free entry
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
GUIDED TOUR
Saturday, 11/8 | 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Smithsonian | Blue/Silver/Orange Lines | 19-min walk (0.8 mi)
ABOUT
Born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15, 1929, Martin Luther King Jr. grew up in an era of racial prejudices and legalized segregation that would influence his life's work. As a religious minister and activist, he rose to become a national leader in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s. Dr. King sought to maintain an "abiding faith in America and an audacious faith in the future of mankind." Although most widely known for his leading role in the African American civil rights movement, Dr. King was a tireless advocate for the nation's working class and the oppressed around the world. His life tragically ended when he was assassinated on April 4, 1968, but his legacy continues to inspire Americans today. Located in downtown Washington, DC, the memorial honors Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy and the struggle for freedom, equality, and justice.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
COST/TICKETS
Free entry
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
GUIDED TOUR
Saturday, 11/8 | 3:00 pm - 3:45 pm
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Smithsonian | Blue/Silver/Orange Lines | 25-min walk (1.1 mi)
ABOUT
President Bill Clinton dedicated the Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Memorial on May 2, 1997. Different from the previous presidential memorials, the FDR Memorial uses elements of stone, water, and landscaping to tell the story of FDR’s presidency in a more approachable way. Quotes are at eye level and the statues are at or close to ground level and were meant to be touched. The memorial consists of five outdoor rooms- one as a prologue and four for the unprecedented four terms of FDR. The fountains and pools placed throughout the memorial represent the important role water played in FDR’s life. The water features and the stones also help set the tone during different times in his presidency, from the reflection to chaos.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
COST/TICKETS
Free entry
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
GUIDED TOUR
Saturday, 11/8 | 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Smithsonian | Blue/Silver/Orange Lines | 19-min walk (0.9 mi)
ABOUT
Founding Father... Revolutionary... Renaissance Man. Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, first Secretary of State for the United States of America, and a complex, 19th-century man with a wide-ranging impact on the very makeup of America itself. Dedicated by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on April 13, 1943, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial stands in a straight line with the White House. Architect John Russell Pope, influenced by Jefferson's taste in classical architecture, echoed the style seen in Jefferson's two most famous buildings - Monticello and the University of Virginia Rotunda.
Explore the Museums and National Zoo
Did you know that Washington DC is home to over 74 museums, many of which are free to visit? If you are looking for a great way to spend a weekend here with the whole family, we'd highly recommend adding a few museums to your itinerary! For a full list of DC museums, check out this webpage. We've also included a list of our top recommendations below. We suggest picking two to three museums to see per day.
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
COST/TICKETS
Requires free entry pass; Parking passes available for $30
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
ESTIMATED VISIT TIME
2 - 3 hours
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Cleveland Park | Red Line | 11-min walk (0.5 mi)
Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan | Red Line | 9-min walk (0.4 mi)
NOTE: While the Cleveland Park stop is a longer walk to the Zoo entrance, it is an easier walk because the path is level; the walk from the Woodley Park stop is uphill.
ABOUT
Founded in 1889, the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute sits on 163 acres in the heart of Washington, D.C.’s Rock Creek Park and is home to more than 2,100 animals representing almost 400 different species.
HIGHLIGHTS
Giant pandas, Asian elephants, Sumatran tigers, Aldabra tortoises, Panamanian golden frogs, sea lions, orangutans, daily animal demonstrations.
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
COST/TICKETS
Requires free timed entry pass.
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
ESTIMATED VISIT TIME
2 - 3 hours
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Smithsonian | Blue/Silver/Orange Lines | 10-min walk (0.5 mi)
ABOUT
Launch into the history of flight by surrounding yourself with icons of air and space travel. The flagship building on the National Mall in Washington, D.C, exhibits aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, rockets, and other flight-related artifacts. While the museum undergoes transformation, half of the building is open with eight new and renovated exhibitions.
HIGHLIGHTS
1903 Wright Flyer; Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia, Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 spacesuit, Star Trek Starship Enterprise Studio Model, Lilienthal Glider, Fuselage, Northrop, T-38 Talon
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
COST/TICKETS
Free entry; $15 parking fee
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
ESTIMATED VISIT TIME
2 - 3 hours
ABOUT
The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles International Airport is the companion facility to the museum in Washington, D.C. Hundreds of historically significant air- and spacecraft, along with thousands of small artifacts, are on display in an open, hangar-like setting. Other features of the Center include the Donald D. Engen Observation Tower, the Airbus IMAX Theater, and the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar, where visitors can watch museum specialists at work restoring artifacts.
HIGHLIGHTS
Space Shuttle Discovery; B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay; Concorde, Lockheed Martin SR-71 Blackbird; Boeing Stratoliner.
National Portrait Gallery
COST/TICKETS
Free entry
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
ESTIMATED VISIT TIME
2 - 3 hours
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Gallery Pl-Chinatown | Red/Yellow/Green Lines | 2-min walk (0.05 mi)
Metro Center | Red/Blue/Silver/Orange Lines | 5-min walk (0.2 mi)
ABOUT
With visual arts, performing arts, and new media, the National Portrait Gallery introduces you to the people who have shaped the country—poets, presidents, actors, activists, visionaries, villains...and everyone in between. Its collection weaves together story and biography from pre-colonial times to the present to tell the American story. The National Portrait Gallery shares its magnificent National Historic Landmark building with the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
HIGHLIGHTS
America’s Presidents, the nation’s only complete collection of presidential portraits outside the White House; workshops and programs for young people; the Kogod Courtyard.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
COST/TICKETS
Requires free timed entry pass.
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
ESTIMATED VISIT TIME
2 - 3 hours
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Smithsonian | Blue/Silver/Orange Lines | 7-min walk (0.3 mi)
ABOUT
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a place where all Americans can learn about the richness and diversity of the African American experience, what it means to their lives, and how it helped us shape this nation.
HIGHLIGHTS
Harriet Tubman's hymnal; Nat Turner’s bible; A plantation cabin from South Carolina; Guard tower from Angola Prison; Chuck Berry’s red Cadillac convertible; and works by prolific artists such as Charles Alston, Elizabeth Catlett, Romare Bearden, and Henry O. Tanner.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
COST/TICKETS
Requires free timed entry pass.
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
ESTIMATED VISIT TIME
2 - 3 hours
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Smithsonian | Blue/Silver/Orange Lines | 6-min walk (0.3 mi)
ABOUT
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) is located adjacent to the National Mall. The USHMM is dedicated to the documentation, study, and interpretation of Holocaust history. The main exhibit spans three floors and offers a chronological narrative of the Holocaust through historical artifacts, photographs, and film footage.
HIGHLIGHTS
Permanent Exhibition: The Holocaust, Americans and the Holocaust, American Witnesses
Other DC Highlights to Visit
Washington National Cathedral
COST/TICKETS
Self-guided Sightseeing: $15/ticket; Guided Spotlights Tour: $20/ticket; Themed Tours: $35-$60/ticket; Tickets are available up to 90 days in advance.
Constituent Tours can be arranged through the office of your U.S. Senator or Representative.
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes*
*NOTE: For "Behind the Scenes" Tours, all participants must be at least 11 years old.
TOUR AVAILABILITY
Monday - Saturday | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm (depending on the specific tour selected)
ESTIMATED VISIT TIME
1 - 1.5 hours
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Tenleytown | Red Line | 29-min walk (1.3 mi)
Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan | Red Line | 29-min walk (1.2 mi)
ABOUT
The sixth-largest cathedral in the world, Washington National Cathedral is an architectural masterpiece, a national house of prayer for all people, and a gathering place for the nation in times of sorrow and in times of celebration. Construction began on this 20th-century gothic-style Cathedral in 1907, but it wasn't finished until 1990. It has been the site of presidential funerals, inaugural prayer services, and many historic moments, including the final Sunday sermon delivered by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
COST/TICKETS
Guided tours for individuals or groups of up to 30 are free but require a reservation; online reservations can be made up to 2 weeks in advance.
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
TOUR AVAILABILITY
Monday - Saturday | 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 3:00 pm
MASS SCHEDULE
Saturday Vigil | 4:30 pm
Sunday | 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 10:30 am, 12:00 pm, 2:30 pm (Spanish), and 4:30 pm
ESTIMATED VISIT TIME
1 - 1.5 hours
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Brookland-CUA | Red Line | 11-min walk (0.5 mi)
ABOUT
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic minor basilica and national shrine in Washington D.C. It is the largest Catholic church building in North America and is also the tallest habitable building in Washington, D.C. Its construction of Byzantine and Romanesque Revival architecture began on 23 September 1920. The basilica is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Immaculate Conception, designated as the principal Patroness accorded by Pope Pius IX on February 7, 1847. Pope Pius XI donated a mosaic rendition of the image in 1923. It serves as the patronal church of the Catholic Church in the United States. Pope John Paul II raised the National Shrine to the status of Minor Basilica via his Pontifical decree Clarum Constat Templum on October 12, 1990. At this shrine, Pope Benedict XVI bestowed a Golden Rose on April 26, 2008, and Pope Francis canonized Junípero Serra here on September 23, 2015.
Arlington National Cemetery
COST/TICKETS
Free entry; Tram tours are available at approximately $20/ticket
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
PUBLIC HOURS
Daily | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
TOUR AVAILABILITY
Daily | every 20 minutes from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
ESTIMATED VISIT TIME
1 - 1.5 hours (tram tours are 45 minutes)
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Arlington Cemetary | Blue Line | 3-min walk (0.1 mi)
ABOUT
Arlington National Military Cemeteries, consisting of Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, and Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., is under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Army. Arlington National Cemetery conducts between 27 and 30 funeral services each weekday and between six and eight services on Saturday. The grounds honor those who have served our nation and provide a sense of beauty and peace for guests. Rolling green hills are dotted with trees that are hundreds of years in age, complementing the gardens found throughout the cemetery's 639 acres. This impressive landscape serves as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of every individual laid to rest within these hallowed grounds.
Attend a DC Sports Game
Washington Capitals @ Capital One Arena
COST/TICKETS
Tickets for the 2025-2026 season are unavailable currently; however, prices typically start at $50/ticket.
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
GAMES IN EARLY NOVEMBER
NOT YET ANNOUNCED
ESTIMATED VISIT TIME
3 hours
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Gallery Place/Chinatown | Red/Yellow/Green Lines | 1-min walk (0.03 mi)
Metro Center | Red/Blue/Silver/Orange Lines | 7-min walk (0.3 mi)
Washington Wizards @ Capital One Arena
COST/TICKETS
Tickets for the 2025-2026 season are unavailable currently; however, prices typically start at $10/ticket.
KID-FRIENDLY
Yes
GAMES IN EARLY NOVEMBER
NOT YET ANNOUNCED
ESTIMATED VISIT TIME
2-3 hours
CLOSEST METRO STOP(S)
Gallery Place/Chinatown | Red/Yellow/Green Lines | 1-min walk (0.03 mi)
Metro Center | Red/Blue/Silver/Orange Lines | 7-min walk (0.3 mi)