10 Free Things to do in Washington, DC (2024)

11 Free Things to do in Washington, DC

I spent MLK weekend in DC with my girlfriends! Although it was chilly, it didn’t stop me from maniac-ing around the city, taking tons of pictures, and soaking up the history. A quick bit of history about out capitol city: According to Wikipedia, on July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a federal district to become the national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution. The District is therefore not a part of any U.S. state.

1. Smithsonian museums

There are 17 free Smithsonian museums in DC, and 11 of the museums are located in the National Mall. I was amazed when I realized they were all free! We spent the most time at the National Museum of American History.

One of my girl friends has a 10 year old boy, and he loved the America on the Move exhibit at this museum. This exhibit explains how transportation has changed our life, from boats, to trains, to the the automobile.

Transportation even changed how we view time. Alarm clocks were mass produced and became staples in peoples bedrooms across thecountry.

As you can tell, we liked this museum! Here is a map of all 17 museums. These could keep a person busy for days, and the best part is that most of the museums surround the National Mall. You can walk to all of the museums pretty easily.

2. National Zoo

There are 5 daily scheduled walking tours, and of course, free admission!Sadly, we did not make it to the zoo, but according to the website there are over 500 animals, including pandas, elephants, white-naped cranes, gorillas, tigers, and cheetahs!

3. Walking Tours of DC

There are 9 walking tours to choose from.Check the schedule because some happen daily while others happen weekly.Here is what the website says about the price, “This tour is free to take, and you get to decide what, if anything, the tour was worth when it’s done. Aname-your-own-price touris a tour for anyone’s budget.”

4. See how money is made

You can literally watch millions of dollars being printed for free at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP)! The ticket booth, located at Raoul Wallenburg Place (formerly 15th Street, SW), opens at 8:00 a.m. Monday through Friday and closes when all tickets have been distributed for the day. Be sure to check the website for peak times and seasons.

5. Play in the field at the Washington Monument

The Washington Monument is closed until spring 2019 to modernize the elevator. When it opens back up you can throw a frisbee, throw a football, have a picnic, fly a kite, or take silly pictures in the field.

6. The White House

The White House is walking distance to the Washington Monument and National Mall. Be sure to check out the front and the back side of the White House. If you want to see the inside, you have to request a tour through a member of congress and all tours are free of charge. See the details here. This is actually the back of the White House. (I feel like this is always the view on tv?)

7. Monuments & Memorials

There are 150+ monuments and memorials in Washington DC. Here are 6 don’t miss memorials.

1. Lincoln Memorial
2. Washinton Monument
3. Thomas Jefferson Memorial
4. MLK Memorial
5. Korean War Memorial
6. WWII Memorial

8. Cherry Bloom Festival

The National Cherry Blossom Festival happens every year to remember the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, DC. The gift and celebration honor the lasting friendship between the United States and Japan. Today the festival takes place over 4 weekends and welcomes more than 1.5 million people.

9. Visit the National Archives

The National Archives is open 7 days a week from 10- 5:30pm and admission is always free. You can view the original Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence in the National Archives.

10. Tour the U.S. Capitol

The Capitol Visitor Center is open Monday-Saturday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. To schedule a free tour, you need to create an account and reserve your spot online.

11. Old Post Office Clock Tower Tour

Don’t miss this amazing birds eye view of Washington DC from the 270 foot observation deck of the old post office clock tower. Built in 1989, the clock tower is 315 feet tall and has 360 degree views. The clock tower also houses the official United States Bells of Congress, a bicentennial gift from England celebrating the end of the Revolutionary War.


Have you been to DC? Did you know ALL of the Smithsonian museums are free! That was such an exciting surprise! Check out 50+ cities on the Creating Really Awesome Free trips series!